The Narrow Path

  Friday, February 7, 2025 Psalm 90 Genesis 22 Luke 3:15-22 God Will Provide (Genesis 22:8) This chapter is one of the most difficult passages of the entire Bible. Not only is the subject matter difficult, but the attitudes of everyone involved (God included) is difficult as well. It is one of those passages that has been done over so thoroughly by scholars, pastors and scoffers alike that finding anything approaching a consensus on how to understand it is impossible. So let’s turn to something basic: where is the “melody line”? Take all the different strands of this passage and stick them in the middle of the music staff and call them “harmony” – that is, various themes we could run off and play with somewhere else – and look instead for the main theme. What is the loudest part? Where is the trumpet fanfare? Where is the big cymbal crash? Surely it has to be the promise of God – and specifically, the promise we have been following since Genesis 3: t...

  Thursday, February 6, 2025 Psalm 86 Genesis 21 Luke 3:1-14 As The Lord Promised (Genesis 21:1) Wading our way through these Old Testament books can get pretty confronting: there seems to be so much drama, tragedy, and, well, plain old messy humanity. If we get upset at something like today’s passage, then just consider what real life today is like: terrible things happen all the time. Far from being a reason to reject these pages of sacred scripture, the reality of it all should give us an even better reason to treat it honestly. But in the midst of family drama, puff-chested patriarchs, and all the rest of it, glimpses of the promised head-crusher keep popping out. Note here the birth of Isaac and how the fact that it was promised by God takes up two verses. Yes, there has been lying, cheating, fighting, murdering, fire, and brimstone – all the things that happen all the time on this planet – but the Messiah is still coming; the promise is still being k...

  Wednesday, February 5, 2025 Psalms 82; 84 Genesis 20 Luke 2:41-52 Observance: Martyrs of Japan, crucified at Nagasaki (d. 1597) The Integrity of the Heart (Genesis 20:6) One of the most popular accusations put forwards against Bible-reading Christians is that we are too much “up in the head” with our beliefs; that we don’t actually live out what we know intellectually to be true. It is not difficult to see where this accusation comes from, as one only needs to take a glance at Reformed boys on social media going after each other with hammer and tongs over minor doctrinal differences. (Although, these digital spats are helpful if only because it shows what the major issue of the moment is.) This accusation may mostly be exaggeration or misunderstanding. But there is a kernel of truth in it, because there is always the temptation to leave what we know up in the head, and not take God’s truth out into the real world. Abraham, that pillar of faith, kep...

  Tuesday, February 4, 2025 Psalm 80 Genesis 19:12-28 Luke 2:8-21 Observance: Anskar, missionary bishop in Sweden (d. 865) Near Enough (Genesis 19:20) If you want to know the difference between a great artist and just another New York Times Best-Seller, you have to look at their goals. When it comes to the best-seller list, then, well, someone has to be there – and it might as well be you! But when it comes to great art, there is something deeper in that person; a desire for greatness for the sake of the art, rather than the personal glory that comes from climbing up just a little bit higher than the rest of the rats in the barrel. Near enough is never good enough for the true artist – there is always something better to aspire to. Lot suffered the same small-mindedness. He had been blessed with guests who were willing to receive his hospitality (and therefore saving them from the horror of the Sodomite streets after dark). Then there is the show-dow...

  Monday, February 3, 2025 Psalm 78:16-38 Genesis 18:22-19:11 Luke 2:1-7 Observance: First Anglican Service at Sydney Cove, Conducted by Richard Johnson, Sydney, 1788 For The Sake Of Ten (Genesis 18:32) From this wonderfully pastoral tableau, of the old man and his wife entertaining three divine guests, comes a dark shadow. Approaching from the valley below them comes the cries of iniquity of the cities of the plain: Sodom and Gomorrah. Rising from their feast, the three men turn from blessing Abraham and Sarah to executing divine judgement. And the story just gets darker from here. But Abraham, in his boldness, has this immortal conversation with God, a conversation that uncovers for us whispers of Jesus’ words about people who are “salt” and “light”. God desires that none should perish, but that all should turn from their sins and live. And for the sake of just ten righteous people, the disaster about to befall Sodom and Gomorrah could be turned away...

  Saturday, February 1, 2025 Psalm 74 Genesis 18:1-22 Luke 1:67-80 The Heat Of The Day (Genesis 18:1) Every time summer rolls around I find myself amazed at the fact that we manage to get anything done for these three months of the year. And while I’m sure there are some minor differences between our sub-tropical summer and Abraham’s Middle Eastern summer, he still had the right idea by resting under a tree in front of his tent during the heat of the day. Yet for all the comfort he managed to find in what I am sure would have been a regular daily routine of cooling off, he immediately jumped up and ran from the tent door to meet these three men who he calls “O Lord”. We know that hospitality to strangers was an extremely important part of the culture of the day. Abraham was doing his expected duty by jumping up to look after them. But he also seems to understand that he is speaking with God, and there is an even greater duty to jump up and serve G...

  Friday, January 31, 2025 Psalm 59 Genesis 17 Luke 1:57-66 God To You (Genesis 17:7) God’s covenant promise is a wonderful thing. The promise of a homeland is something many people the world over throughout history have yearned for. And the promise of descendants is a universal yearning too. But one part of this promise stuck out and has stuck with God’s people ever since: that God would be our God. Abram (now Abraham) is obsessed over the promise of children. He is so desperate that he asks if God can fulfil the promise through Ishmael; God replies that Sarai (now Sarah) is to be the mother of kings. Abraham doesn’t even bring up the issue of land rights, as he probably thinks that is in the bag, as he has already proved to himself he knows how to win a war. But for the rest of the Old Testament, and throughout the New all the way to Revelation, the promise that God would be our God is what has stuck out as the most wonderful part of this covenant pro...